Mounting means for terminal junction modules

ABSTRACT

Mounting means for terminal junction modules comprising a channel-shaped frame member having a relatively low sidewall and a relatively high sidewall. A plurality of spaced-apart inwardly directed ears on the low sidewall and are adapted to enter confined recesses on the one end of each module. Resilient spring arms extend upwardly from the web of the frame adjacent to the high sidewall and have inwardly displaced upper portions which define downwardly facing shoulders. These shoulders are adapted to be located above upwardly facing shoulders on the opposite ends of the modules when the modules are positioned between the sidewalls. In order to lock a stack of modules in the channelshaped member, a slidable locking bar is mounted on the high sidewall and has inwardly directed bosses which are adapted to bear against the surfaces of the latching arms and prevent their movement outwardly away from the modules of the stack.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Larry Ronald Stauffer CampHill,Pa. [21] ApplrNo. 815,464 [22] Filed Apr.11,1969 [45] Patented Apr. 27, 1971 [73] Assignee AMP, Incorporated Harrisburg, Pa.

[54] MOUNTING MEANS FOR TERMINAL JUNCTION MODULES 7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1... 339/198, 339/126 [51] Int.CI H01r9/00 [50] FieldofSearch 339/198, 125,126,133,128;211/41,89;248/310,313,316

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,946,033 7/1960 339/17 3,091,679 5/1963 Norden.... 200/168 3,160,280 12/1964 Burch.... 211/89 3,254,464 6/1966 Hoyt 52/309 Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer Attorneys-Curtis, Morris and Safford, Marshall M.

Holcombe, William I-lintze, William J. Keating, Frederick W. Raring, John R. Hopkins, Adrian J. LaRue and Jay L. Seitchik ABSTRACT: Mounting means for terminal junction modules comprising a channel-shaped frame member having a relatively low sidewall and a relatively high sidewall. A plurality of spaced-apart inwardly directed ears on the low sidewall and are adapted to enter confined recesses on the one end of each module. Resilient spring arms extend upwardly from the web of the frame adjacent to the high sidewall and have inwardly displaced upper portions which define downwardly facing shoulders. These shoulders are adapted to be located above upwardly facing shoulders on the opposite ends of the modules when the modules are positioned between the sidewalls. In order to lock a stack of modules in the channelshaped member, a slidable locking bar is mounted on the high sidewall and has inwardly directed bosses which are adapted to bear against the surfaces of the latching arms and prevent their movement outwardly away from the modules of the stack.

PATENTEU Am"! 1971 SHEET 2 OF 3 MOUNTING MEANS ron TERMINAL JUNCTION MODULES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of the frame which extend over suitable shoulders on the modules. In addition, clamp means are provided at each end of the module stack to prevent separation of the modules after they have been secured in their desired positions.

The present invention is generally directed to. the achievement of an improved mounting system for terminal junction modules which permits rapid removal of an individual module from any position in a module stack, which has means for ensuring retention of the modules in the stack when desired, and which incorporates resilient means to exert a clamping pressure on the individual modules thereby to prevent movement of the modules relative to the mounting frame under the influence of vibration.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in one embodiment which is briefly described in the abstract presented above, which is described in detail in the description presented below, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Hg. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting frame in accordance with the invention having a stack of modules mounted therein. 1

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view having a retaining strip which is mounted in a mounting frame and which retains the modules between the sidewalls of the frame.

showing both ends and both sides of the module.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 1. 7

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the manner in which an individual module can be mounted in, or removed from, the mounting means.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are top plan views illustrating the action of the locking bar which locks the individual modules in the mounting frame.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a mounting frame in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a module of a'type for which the mounting means of FIG. 9 is intended.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-5, a terminal junction system 2 in accordance with the invention comprises a mounting means generally indicated at 4 having a plurality of terminal junction modules 6 mounted therein. The mounting means 4 comprises a generally channel-shaped frame member having a web 8, a relatively low sidewall 10, and a relatively higher sidewall 12, the low sidewall having an inwardly turned flange 14 on its upper edge and the relatively higher sidewall 12 having its upper portion inwardly displaced relative to its lower portion as indicated at 16. The sidewall 12 is also provided with an outwardly directed flange 18 on its upper end on which is mounted a locking bar which will be described below.

The individual modules 6 are generally prismatic and are of a relatively firm plastic insulating material such as diallylphthalate and have end surfaces 20, 22 and sides 24, 26. Modules of the type shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,456,215 I and in application Ser. No. 801,436, and need not be described in detail here. It may be noted that the modules are provided with baseplates 32, which are secured to the undersides of the modules after the contacts have been inserted, and sealing blocks 34 on the upper surfaces of the modules. Openings 36 extend through the upper surfaces of the sealing blocks 34 to permit the insertion of contact terminals 38 (FIG. 5) which are secured onto ends of wires 40. The ends of the contact terminal pins 38 are gated plate or strip 46 secured against the surface ofthe web 8 FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of an individual module by suitable fasteners 66. A plurality of spaced-apart rigid retaining arms 48 extend upwardly from the left-hand edge (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the strip section 46 and have inwardly turned flanges or cars 50 at their upper ends. The spacing between the rigid arms 48 is substantially equal to the width of the side 20 of the modules so that one arm is located centrally against each module with its inwardly turned upper end 50 adapted to enter a square recess 54 on the side 20 of the associated module. Tabs 52 extend laterally and upwardly from the sides of strip section 46 on each side of each arm 48 and are adapted to be received within the recess defined by the flange 14 on the upper edge of the sidewall 10. Similar tabs 64 are provided on the right-hand side of the strip section 46 on each side of resilient latching arms 56. The tabs 64 are similarly adapted to be received within the recess beneath the inwardly displaced section of the sidewall 12, the tabs 52, 64, being so spaced that they resiliently bear against the opposed faces of the sidewalls and securely retain the latching means 44 in the frame member.

The spring arms or resilient arms 56 which extend upwardly from the right-hand side of the plate section 46 are normally inwardly directed as shown in FIG. 2 but are adapted to be resiliently bent outwardly when a module is placed in the retaining means as will be described below. The lower portions .of these resilient arms are provided with inwardly directed bosses 62 and the upper portions of the arms are displaced inwardly as shown at 58 to define downwardly facing shoulders adapted to engage an upwardly facing shoulder 70 on the sides 22 of the modules. The upper ends of each arm has an outwardly directed flange 60 to facilitate manipulation of'the arms when an individual module is to be removed from the mounting means as will also be described below.

Referring to FIG. 6, when it is desired to mount an individual module 6 in the mounting means, the module is located against one of the rigid arms 48 with the flange 50 of the arm extending into the square recess 54 of the module. The module can then be pivoted about the flange 50 and moved downwardly against the plate section 46 with concomitant flexure of the resilient arm 56. After the module has been located against the upper surface of the plate section 8, the

arm 56 will tend to spring inwardly so that its downwardly facing shoulder is disposed immediately above the upwardly facing shoulder 70 of the module as best shown in FIG. 5. The boss 62 will extend into a vertically extending groove 68 in the side 22 of the module to prevent movement of the module in the direction of the axis of the frame member. The module can be removed by merely flexing the resilient arm rightwardly to disengage the shoulder on the arm from the shoulder 70 of the module, and swinging the module in a counterclockwise are as also illustrated by FIG. 6.

It is desirable to provide a means for positively locking the module in the mounting means to prevent accidental removal and to permit rapid inspection of the terminal junction system for improperly mounted or misplaced modules. In the disclosed embodiment, the modules can be locked in position by means of a generally L-shaped locking bar 72 having sides 73, 75 disposed against the inner surface of the sidewall 12 and against the upper surface of the flange 18 respectively. The edge of the section 75 of the locking bar is downwardly and inwardly turned as shown at 74 to secure the bar on the upper portions of the sidewall. The ends of the sections 73 of the locking bar are outwardly bent as shown at 78 to retain the locking bar against axial movement off of the sidewall.

The side 73 of the locking bar is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart inwardly directed bosses 76, the spacing between the bosses being equal to the width of the modules.

These bosses project inwardly, as viewed in FIG. 5, a distance such that when they bear against the outwardly facing surfaces of the resilient latching arms 56, they will prevent rightward movement of the arms and maintain the arms in latching engagement with the modules. It will thus be apparent that when it is desired to insert or remove a module from a stack, the locking bar 72 should be slit to the position of FIG. 8 in which the bosses are out of engagement with resilient arms 56. The arms can then be flexed rightwardly as viewed in FIG. 6 at distance sufficient to permit removal of the modules. After the module stack has been serviced, the locking bar is slid from the position of FIG. 8 to the position of FIG. 7 to lock the modules in the mounting means. Advantageously, a detent means (not specifically shown) is provided to resiliently latch the locking bar in either of its two extreme positions. Additionally, and if desired, means can be provided for securing the locking bar in its locking position (FIG. 7); for example, a clip can be mounted on the locking bar on the right-hand thereof as viewed in FIG. 7 to prevent the movement of the locking bar from its locking position or the locking bar can be wired in its locking position.

It should be noted that while the individual modules can be removed from the mounting means only when the locking bar is in its unlocked position (FIG. 8), the individual modules can be inserted or placed in the mounting means when the locking bar is in either position because of the resilience ofthe arm 56. The modules can be positioned in the mounting means with greater ease when the locking bar is in its unlocked position than when the bar is in its locked position and ordinarily the modules will be placed in the mounting means when the bar is in its unlocked position. Under some circumstances however, it may be desired to mount most of the modules in the mounting means, move the locking bar to its locking position, and insert some of the modules at a later time; for example, where the mounting means is fixed to a bulkhead during the assembly of an aircraft and the module for subsequently added wires is inserted after mounting of the mounting means on the bulkhead.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a mounting means in accordance with the invention will retain the modules in their desired positions in the mounting frame against both longitudinal movement with respect to the frame and lateral movement out of the frame. A further advantage of the disclosed embodiment is that all of the modules are individually biased leftwardly by the resilient arms 56 against the rigid anns 48. The modules are thus firmly and resiliently clamped in the mounting means so that any vibrations transmitted from nearby equipment, will not result in vibratory movements ofthe module with respect to the frame.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the modules 6' have bosses 84, 86 on their ends 22 respectively. The boss 84 is adapted to enter one of the openings 82 in the sidewall 10 of the frame member. The arms 56 of the embodiment of FIG. 9 are straight, rather than bent inwardly as in the previously described embodiment and are provided elongated slots 80. These slots are adapted to receive the bosses 86 on the sides 22 of the modules thereby to retain the modules in the mounting frame. The locking bar 72 is generally similar to the locking bar 72 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and has inwardly directed bosses 76' which, as with the previously described embodiment, function to restrain arms 56' against outward flexure after the modules have been placed in their intended positions and the locking bar moved to its locking position.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

Iclaim:

1. Mounting means having electrical modules therein comprising:

a metallic channel-shaped frame member having a web, a

first sidewall, and a second sidewall, said modules being between said sidewalls with first and second sides disposed between said first and second sidewalls respecplane of said web whereby said surfaces are effective to prevent movement of said modules axially along said channel-shaped frame and normally away from said frame, and

resilient latching means effective between said second sidewall of each module and said second side of said frame member, said resilient latching means and said module providing opposed surfaces which extend in a plane which is parallel to the plane of said web thereby to prevent movement of said modules normally away from said frame member, said latching means being disengageable from said modules individually thereby to permit removal of said modules from said frame member.

2. Mounting means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interengaging means for each module comprises a recess on said first side of each module and an inwardly directed arm on said first sidewall.

3. Mounting means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interengaging means for each module comprises an opening in said first sidewall and a projection on said first side of each of said modules.

4. Mounting means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latching means for each module comprises a resilient latch arm extending beside said second sidewall, portions of said latch arm being spaced from said sidewall and being resiliently engageable with said second side of said module, said latch arms being movable towards said second sidewall to permit removal of said module from said frame.

5. Mounting means as set forth in claim 4 including locking means on said second sidewall for locking said latch arms in engagement with said module.

6. Mounting means as set forth in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises a locking bar slidably mounted on said second sidewall, said bar being movable between first and second positions, said bar having boss means thereon engageable with said arms and baising said arms into engagement with said modules when said bar is in said second position, said bosses being displaced, axially of said frame member, away from said modules when said bar is in said first position thereby to permit movement of said arms toward said second sidewall and removal of said modules.

7. Mounting means for a plurality of terminal junction modules or the like comprising:

a generally channel-shaped frame member comprising a web, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, said first sidewall being relatively lower than said second sidewall,

a plurality of spaced-apart latching ears on the inner surface of said first sidewall, each of said latching ears being adapted to engage one side of each of said modules,

a plurality of spaced-apart resilient arms adjacent to said second sidewall, each of said arms being in alignment with one of said latching ears and being effective to bias a module towards its associated latching ear, and

locking means slidably mounted on said second sidewall, said locking means being movable between first and second positions, said locking means biasing each of said arms towards its associated latching ear when in said first position thereby to lock a module located therebetween in said frame member, and said locking means permitting movement of said arms relatively away from said ears when in said second position thereby to permit removal of said modules. 

1. Mounting means having electrical modules therein comprising: a metallic channel-shaped frame member having a web, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, said modules being between said sidewalls with first and second sides disposed between said first and second sidewalls respectively, interengaging means on said first sidewall and each of said modules, said interengaging means for each module comprising an opening and a projection extending into said opening, said interengaging means providing first opposed surfaces on said opening and said projection which extend in planes which are parallel to the plane of said web and providing second opposed surfaces on said opening and said projection which extend normally of the plane of said web whereby said surfaces are effective to prevent movement of said modules axially along said channel-shaped frame and normally away from said frame, and resilient latching means effective between said second sidewall of each module and said second side of said frame member, said resilient latching means and said module providing opposed surfaces which extend in a plane which is parallel to the plane of said web thereby to prevent movement of said modules normally away from said frame member, said latching means being disengageable from said modules individually thereby to permit removal of said modules from said frame member.
 2. Mounting means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interengaging means for each module comprises a recess on said first side of each module and an inwardly directed arm on said first sidewall.
 3. Mounting means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said interengaging means for each module comprises an opening in said first sidewall and a projection on said first side of each of said modules.
 4. Mounting means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latching means for each module comprises a resilient latch arm extending beside said second sidewall, portIons of said latch arm being spaced from said sidewall and being resiliently engageable with said second side of said module, said latch arms being movable towards said second sidewall to permit removal of said module from said frame.
 5. Mounting means as set forth in claim 4 including locking means on said second sidewall for locking said latch arms in engagement with said module.
 6. Mounting means as set forth in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises a locking bar slidably mounted on said second sidewall, said bar being movable between first and second positions, said bar having boss means thereon engageable with said arms and baising said arms into engagement with said modules when said bar is in said second position, said bosses being displaced, axially of said frame member, away from said modules when said bar is in said first position thereby to permit movement of said arms toward said second sidewall and removal of said modules.
 7. Mounting means for a plurality of terminal junction modules or the like comprising: a generally channel-shaped frame member comprising a web, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall, said first sidewall being relatively lower than said second sidewall, a plurality of spaced-apart latching ears on the inner surface of said first sidewall, each of said latching ears being adapted to engage one side of each of said modules, a plurality of spaced-apart resilient arms adjacent to said second sidewall, each of said arms being in alignment with one of said latching ears and being effective to bias a module towards its associated latching ear, and locking means slidably mounted on said second sidewall, said locking means being movable between first and second positions, said locking means biasing each of said arms towards its associated latching ear when in said first position thereby to lock a module located therebetween in said frame member, and said locking means permitting movement of said arms relatively away from said ears when in said second position thereby to permit removal of said modules. 